Wyoming: Per-Capita Personal Income Sixth In The Nation

Wyoming workers are making more money than they did a year ago. According to most recent numbers, the state ranks sixth in the nation for per capita personal income with earnings just over $47,000 per person in 2011. That’s well above the national average of approximately $42,000.

Senior Economist for the state’s Economic Division, Jim Robinson, says one of the primary drivers for personal income growth was energy.

“Personal income numbers, as long as we have energy drilling taking place, as long as we have the employment numbers associated with that activity, personal income should hold up pretty good,” says Robinson.

Robinson says in the fourth quarter of 2011 alone, Wyomings personal income numbers increased by 1.2%. That was third consecutive quarter where the state matched or exceeded income growth both regionally and nationally.